Boston Bruins: David Backes determined to remain relevant
The Boston Bruins pre-season slowly winds down, they have just one more test left. One of the most intriguing figures in training camp has been David Backes.
Is David Backes going to start the year on the injured reserve? Those were the rumors to start the month of September. Fortunately for the Boston Bruins veteran, that’s not an issue. Backes has looked healthy enough to play during this pre-season. Instead, Backes is fighting real hard to be on the Opening Night roster.
“In the past, I’ve had a more secure role and spot and used (preseason) games as a warm up and had a target date of (opening night) to build up to that. This year is more of staring down the face of my first preseason game and I need to be going all out and prove myself every shift. Ideally, it’s three games but that’s not in my control and when I’m out there I need to do my best,” said Backes last week.
That came out after a rather good outing against the Philadelphia Flyers. On Monday, David Backes had two-assist night versus Philly. On Wednesday, Backes played his best pre-season contest as the Boston Bruins took on the New Jersey Devils. Backes played on the line with Par Lindholm as a center and Anders Bjork as a left-winger.
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The Backes’ line delivered big-time. All game long, these three were relentless on the fore check and it seemed like Backes from good old times. Was it just a mirage, or only a preseason unimportant showing?
Not necessarily facing the AHL-like Devils’ team, Backes played 17:06 at even-strength. His CF% was at 68.75 and his xGF% at 78.02. He put in some solid nice effort all evening long.
David Backes was around the net during the whole contest at TD Garden, just couldn’t bury one in for the Boston Bruins. Then at the beginning of the third period, Backes sniped one in from his backhand. Whatever it takes, as they say. It’s laborious to find a roster spot for David Backes, but if he plays as he did on Wednesday, he can still be a valuable player for this season’s Boston Bruins.
In the post-game aftermath, David Backes revealed his secret offseason preparation with the conditioning coach Katie McDonough. All that only because the 35-year-old veteran wasn’t able to keep up with the 12-year-old girls while skating.
“It was maybe the most humbled I have ever been in my life. I went home and said ‘this is divine intervention.’ So, I called McDonough and said, ‘I need you to help me,’ and she helped me. It was painful, at times, I’m not going to lie, but it’s translated into what I need to have,” said Backes.
Next. A new deal for Krug is surely next to be settled. dark
Whether is that a ‘deus ex machina’ intervention or not, David Backes makes a strong case not to start the season in the AHL. Luckily for him, the Boston Bruins don’t require that extra million, which would they save with him spending some time down in Providence. Is it all enough, though?